Joan Thelma Watson (June 28, 1953 – March 12, 2015) was a Canadian french horn musician and teacher. She served as principal horn of the Canadian Opera Orchestra and was a founding member of the True North Brass quintet.[1][2]
Watson was born in 1953 and married musician Scott Irvine, who became the principal tuba player of the Canadian Opera Orchestra (COC).[1] They raised two sons together, Max and Joel.[2]
Musicianshipedit
Before she was named principal horn of the Canadian Opera Orchestra,[1] Watson's professional positions included, associate principal horn of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for 14 seasons (she won the job while she was eight-months pregnant). She was also named principal horn of the Esprit Orchestra in Toronto, the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Pacific Opera and Vancouver Opera orchestras. She was also a founder of the True North Brass quintet.[2]
Watson's chamber music performances were heard frequently via the Canadian Broadcasting System and with New Music Concerts. She performed as a featured soloist at the International Women’s Brass Conference, the International Horn Symposium in Banff, Alberta and the International Brass Quintet Symposium in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition, Watson was a featured soloist and lecturer at the International Horn Symposium in Chicago in 2009, and in June 2010 in Toronto, she hosted the International Women’s Brass Conference.[2]
As a member of the University of Toronto’s faculty of music, Watson taught horn and lectured on subjects ranging from performance skills to audition preparation and "creating a passionate and fulfilling life of music making."[2]
She served as an artist and clinician for Yamaha Canada developing a 30-year relationship that allowed her to mentor many young artists. In 2008, the Yamaha Corporation chose Watson for signature recognition on a company poster, which made her "the first woman brass player in the world featured on a Yamaha poster." The company described her as, "this country’s foremost horn virtuoso and educator, Joan leaves behind a musical legacy that will be an inspiration for generations."[4]
Watson's final performance was on February 22, 2015.[3] She died from breast cancer on March 12, 2015, at the age of 61 at her home in Owen Sound, Ontario.[2][5]
The Joan Watson memorial fund was founded by her husband, Scott Irvine, to support the immersive Canadian Opera Orchestra Academy that Watson helped establish for young orchestra musicians.[1][7]
Referencesedit
^ abcd"COC News | Canadian Opera Company". www.coc.ca. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
^ abcdef"Joan Watson - French horn". Music By The Sea. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
^ ab"Remembering Joan Watson". www.thewholenote.com. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
joan, thelma, watson, june, 1953, march, 2015, canadian, french, horn, musician, teacher, served, principal, horn, canadian, opera, orchestra, founding, member, true, north, brass, quintet, bornjune, 1953diedmarch, 2015owen, sound, ontarionationalitycanadianoc. Joan Thelma Watson June 28 1953 March 12 2015 was a Canadian french horn musician and teacher She served as principal horn of the Canadian Opera Orchestra and was a founding member of the True North Brass quintet 1 2 Joan Thelma WatsonBornJune 28 1953DiedMarch 12 2015Owen Sound OntarioNationalityCanadianOccupationFrench Horn musicianKnown forPrincipal Horn Canadian Opera CompanySpouseScott IrvineChildrenMax and Joel Contents 1 Life 1 1 Musicianship 1 2 Mentorship 2 Selected discography 3 The Joan Watson Fund 4 ReferencesLife editWatson was born in 1953 and married musician Scott Irvine who became the principal tuba player of the Canadian Opera Orchestra COC 1 They raised two sons together Max and Joel 2 Musicianship edit Before she was named principal horn of the Canadian Opera Orchestra 1 Watson s professional positions included associate principal horn of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for 14 seasons she won the job while she was eight months pregnant She was also named principal horn of the Esprit Orchestra in Toronto the Victoria Symphony Orchestra as well as the Pacific Opera and Vancouver Opera orchestras She was also a founder of the True North Brass quintet 2 Watson s chamber music performances were heard frequently via the Canadian Broadcasting System and with New Music Concerts She performed as a featured soloist at the International Women s Brass Conference the International Horn Symposium in Banff Alberta and the International Brass Quintet Symposium in Atlanta Georgia In addition Watson was a featured soloist and lecturer at the International Horn Symposium in Chicago in 2009 and in June 2010 in Toronto she hosted the International Women s Brass Conference 2 She also performed for contemporary music groups writing that she had backed up Rod Stewart Andrea Bocelli Lisa Minnelli the Eagles Lighthouse and Led Zeppelin 3 Mentorship edit As a member of the University of Toronto s faculty of music Watson taught horn and lectured on subjects ranging from performance skills to audition preparation and creating a passionate and fulfilling life of music making 2 She served as an artist and clinician for Yamaha Canada developing a 30 year relationship that allowed her to mentor many young artists In 2008 the Yamaha Corporation chose Watson for signature recognition on a company poster which made her the first woman brass player in the world featured on a Yamaha poster The company described her as this country s foremost horn virtuoso and educator Joan leaves behind a musical legacy that will be an inspiration for generations 4 Watson s final performance was on February 22 2015 3 She died from breast cancer on March 12 2015 at the age of 61 at her home in Owen Sound Ontario 2 5 Selected discography editJoan Watson 2007 Songs My Mother Taught Me 6 The Joan Watson Fund editThe Joan Watson memorial fund was founded by her husband Scott Irvine to support the immersive Canadian Opera Orchestra Academy that Watson helped establish for young orchestra musicians 1 7 References edit a b c d COC News Canadian Opera Company www coc ca Retrieved 2021 03 19 a b c d e f Joan Watson French horn Music By The Sea Retrieved 2021 03 19 a b Remembering Joan Watson www thewholenote com Retrieved 2021 03 19 Joan Watson Yamaha Canada English ca yamaha com Retrieved 2021 03 19 Vincent Michael 2015 03 13 OBITUARY Canadian Virtuoso Horn Player Joan Thelma Watson Has Died Ludwig van Toronto Retrieved 2021 03 19 Joan Watson Credits AllMusic Retrieved 2021 03 19 Anderson Janet The Joan Watson Fund Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joan Thelma Watson amp oldid 1177320571, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
